Time pregnant refers to the gestational period, which is conventionally measured from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP) rather than from the date of conception. This is because the date of ovulation and fertilization is often uncertain.
Pregnancy is considered to last approximately 40 weeks (280 days) from the first day of the LMP. This duration is divided into three trimesters, each lasting roughly three months.
Here's a breakdown:
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Start of Calculation: The gestational age is calculated starting from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period.
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Duration: A full-term pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks.
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Trimesters: The pregnancy is divided into three trimesters:
- First Trimester: Week 1 to the end of Week 13
- Second Trimester: Week 14 to the end of Week 27
- Third Trimester: Week 28 to the end of delivery
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Conception vs. Gestational Age: The actual fertilization typically occurs around two weeks after the LMP, meaning the gestational age is usually about two weeks ahead of the actual fetal age.
Therefore, "time pregnant" encapsulates the entire period of gestation, calculated from the LMP and spanning approximately 40 weeks, divided into three trimesters.
